Introduction

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the next pandemic could be caused by “Disease X.” This is a term used to describe a hypothetical pathogen that could emerge and cause widespread illness and death. While there is no specific disease that has been identified as “Disease X,” there are several pathogens that researchers are keeping a watchful eye on due to their potential to cause a pandemic.

Some of the pathogens that are of concern include Ebola, SARS, and Nipah. These are all viruses that have caused outbreaks in the past and have the potential to mutate and become more contagious or deadly. Other pathogens that are on the watch list include Lassa fever, Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS), and Zika virus.

The WHO has a key role in pandemic preparedness, including monitoring and responding to outbreaks of infectious diseases around the world. They work closely with governments, healthcare providers, and other organizations to coordinate research and surveillance efforts and develop strategies to prevent and control the spread of diseases.

Key Takeaways

• “Disease X” is a hypothetical pathogen that could cause the next pandemic.
• Researchers are keeping a watchful eye on several pathogens, including Ebola, SARS, and Nipah, due to their potential to cause a pandemic.
• The WHO plays a key role in pandemic preparedness, including monitoring and responding to outbreaks, coordinating research and surveillance efforts, and developing strategies to prevent and control the spread of diseases.

Understanding ‘Disease X’

‘Disease X’ is a term coined by the World Health Organization (WHO) to describe a hypothetical pathogen that could cause a future pandemic. It represents the knowledge that a serious international epidemic could be caused by a pathogen currently unknown to cause human disease.

The WHO added Disease X to a short list of pathogens deemed a top priority for research, alongside known killers like Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) and Ebola. Covid-19, caused by a novel coronavirus, was an example of a Disease X when it touched off the pandemic at the end of 2019.

Researchers are keeping a watchful eye on nine pathogens that could cause the next pandemic, including Ebola, SARS, and Nipah. These pathogens have the potential to cause significant morbidity and mortality, and there are currently no vaccines or effective treatments for them.

To prepare for the next pandemic, it is crucial to understand the characteristics of Disease X and other potential pathogens. This includes their mode of transmission, incubation period, clinical presentation, and potential for mutation. By studying these factors, researchers can develop effective strategies for the prevention, detection, and control of future pandemics.

In conclusion, Disease X represents a potential threat to global health security. However, by remaining vigilant and investing in research and preparedness, we can minimize the impact of future pandemics.

Pathogens to Watch

The World Health Organization (WHO) has identified nine pathogens that researchers are keeping a watchful eye on, including Ebola, SARS, and Nipah virus. These pathogens have the potential to cause the next pandemic, including the mysterious Disease X.

Ebola

Ebola virus disease (EVD) is a severe and often fatal illness that spreads through contact with the bodily fluids of infected animals or humans. The 2014-2016 outbreak in West Africa was the largest and most complex Ebola outbreak since the virus was first discovered in 1976. According to the WHO, the risk of Ebola spreading to other countries remains high.

SARS

Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) is a viral respiratory illness that first emerged in Asia in 2003. The outbreak affected 26 countries and resulted in over 8,000 cases and 774 deaths. Although the outbreak was contained, the virus still poses a threat as it can be transmitted through respiratory droplets.

Nipah Virus

Nipah virus is a zoonotic virus that can be transmitted from animals to humans. The virus was first identified during an outbreak in Malaysia in 1998 and has since caused several outbreaks in Bangladesh and India. The virus can cause severe respiratory illness and encephalitis, and there is currently no vaccine or specific treatment for the virus.

Other pathogens on the WHO’s list include Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever, Lassa fever, Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS), Rift Valley fever, Zika, and Disease X. Researchers continue to monitor these pathogens and work towards developing vaccines and treatments to prevent the next pandemic.

WHO’s Role in Pandemic Preparedness

The World Health Organization (WHO) plays a critical role in pandemic preparedness and response. As part of its mandate, the WHO monitors disease outbreaks around the world and provides guidance to countries on how to prevent and control the spread of infectious diseases.

In the case of “Disease X,” the WHO has identified nine pathogens that researchers are keeping a watchful eye on, including Ebola, SARS, and Nipah. The goal is to be prepared for any potential outbreak, even if the specific pathogen is not yet known.

To achieve this, the WHO works closely with governments, international organizations, and other stakeholders to develop and implement strategies for pandemic preparedness. This includes:

• Providing technical support and guidance to countries on how to prevent and control the spread of infectious diseases.
• Developing and disseminating guidelines and best practices for pandemic preparedness and response.
• Conducting research to better understand the transmission and impact of infectious diseases.
• Coordinating global efforts to develop vaccines, diagnostics, and therapeutics for emerging infectious diseases.
• Supporting the development of surveillance systems to detect and respond to disease outbreaks.

Through these efforts, the WHO is working to ensure that the world is better prepared for the next pandemic, whatever form it may take.

Research and Surveillance Efforts

The World Health Organization (WHO) added ‘Disease X’ to a short list of pathogens deemed a top priority for research, alongside known killers like Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) and Ebola. Disease X represents the knowledge that a serious international epidemic could be caused by a pathogen currently unknown to cause human disease. It is a so-called ‘known unknown’ that the WHO says we need to be prepared for, which is why the mystery malady is now on the agency’s R&D Blueprint of priority diseases ¹.

Researchers are keeping a watchful eye on nine pathogens that could cause the next pandemic, including Ebola, SARS, Nipah, and Disease X. The WHO has stressed the importance of investing in research and development to prevent and control potential pandemics. The organization has also called for increased surveillance and preparedness efforts to detect and respond to emerging infectious diseases ¹.

Surveillance efforts involve monitoring the spread of infectious diseases and identifying potential outbreaks before they become widespread. This includes tracking disease patterns, monitoring animal populations, and detecting unusual cases of illness. Researchers are also developing new diagnostic tools and vaccines to prevent and control the spread of infectious diseases ².

In addition to surveillance efforts, researchers are also studying the genetic makeup of pathogens to better understand how they spread and evolve. This includes analyzing the genetic sequences of viruses and bacteria to identify potential drug targets and develop new treatments. By understanding the genetic makeup of pathogens, researchers hope to develop more effective strategies for preventing and controlling infectious diseases ³.

Footnotes

1. What Is Disease X? How Scientists Are Preparing for the Next Pandemic ↩ ↩²
2. Surveillance and Preparedness for Emerging Infectious Diseases ↩
3. Genomics and Infectious Disease ↩

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the characteristics of ‘Disease X’ that make it a potential pandemic threat?

‘Disease X’ is a term used by the World Health Organization (WHO) to describe a hypothetical pathogen that could cause the next global pandemic. The characteristics of ‘Disease X’ are unknown, but it is believed to be a novel virus or bacteria that could emerge unexpectedly and spread rapidly across the globe. The potential pandemic threat of ‘Disease X’ lies in its ability to cause severe illness, high mortality rates, and its potential to spread easily from person to person.

How is the World Health Organization monitoring emerging pathogens with pandemic potential?

The WHO is closely monitoring emerging pathogens with pandemic potential through its Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network (GOARN). GOARN is a network of experts and institutions that work together to detect, assess, and respond to outbreaks of infectious diseases. GOARN provides technical support and expertise to countries and regions affected by outbreaks, and helps to coordinate the international response to global health emergencies.

What measures can be taken to prevent the outbreak of diseases like Ebola, SARS, or Nipah?

Preventing the outbreak of diseases like Ebola, SARS, or Nipah requires a multi-faceted approach that includes early detection, rapid response, and effective containment measures. This includes strengthening health systems, improving surveillance and laboratory capacity, and developing effective vaccines and treatments. It also involves promoting public awareness and education and implementing measures to reduce the risk of transmission, such as hand hygiene, social distancing, and wearing masks.

What are the common factors among pathogens that pose a high risk for global health?

Pathogens that pose a high risk for global health often share common characteristics, such as the ability to spread easily from person to person, high mortality rates, and the absence of effective vaccines or treatments. They may also be zoonotic, meaning they can be transmitted from animals to humans, and may have the potential to cause severe respiratory illness.

How does the international community respond to the threat of a new pandemic?

The international community responds to the threat of a new pandemic through a coordinated and collaborative effort that involves governments, public health agencies, and international organizations. This includes sharing information, expertise, and resources, and working together to develop effective strategies for prevention, detection, and response. It also involves implementing measures to reduce the risk of transmission, such as travel restrictions, quarantine measures, and social distancing guidelines.

What are the latest advancements in vaccine development for combating future pandemics?

The latest advancements in vaccine development for combating future pandemics include the use of new technologies, such as mRNA vaccines, which have shown promising results in clinical trials. Other approaches include the use of viral vectors, adjuvants, and novel antigen design strategies. These advancements have the potential to accelerate the development of effective vaccines for emerging pathogens and to improve our ability to respond to future pandemics.

The Pandemic originating from Wuhan China has enveloped the whole world and the catastrophe caused by covid-19 is beyond speculation.  Schools, Colleges, Universities and business are closed for an indefinite period and the World has gone into self-isolation while the countries imposed lockdown in the world in the severely hit areas to contain the outbreak at massive scale.

The pandemic has affected all the countries especially China, France, Italy, Germany, US, UK, Iran, Egypt and third world countries i.e Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and  Afghanistan and some African countries.

There are some countries which are severely impacted socially and economically while some countries have sustained moderate impact owing to taking timely preventive measures as per circulated guidelines of WHO and Local Health ministries of respective Countries.

With President Donald  Trump clipping the wings of  UN’s apex health body by cutting the financial support amid the Global Pandemic, the catastrophe is expected to go from bad to worse as WHO  will experience the funds’ shortage that will ultimately contribute to a deep humanitarian crisis. 

The world posts a bleak picture already as all business activities have been suspended, the markets have been closed for an indefinite period, the stock markets crashed and the unemployment ratio suddenly jumped to historical high due to covid-19 Pandemic. Even OPEC members have decided to cut the oil production given the pandemic situation. 

The Global economy has been severely impacted by the shocks of the deadly virus that prompted companies like Google, Yahoo, Microsoft, Face book, Twitter to ask their employees to work from home to avoid contracting  Covid-19.

All the industries have been impacted badly that include entertainment, Sports, food franchise has completely shutdown creating panicking situation all around as once busiest streets and markets have started presenting deserted look.

This global economic warrants that if the early remedy to cure covid-19 is not discovered, the future will be dreadful to predict. The mighty economies such as China, the US, France, Italy, UK, Germany has been seriously impacted by this deadly virus. The situation is haunting the people around the world, bringing misery of greater proportion as compared to Word War II, Ebola, SARS, MERS, Plage and Yaws.

The Daily Wage workers, Private workers, drivers, hawkers, shop keepers and thousands of similar workers have lost their jobs and the opportunity to earn their livelihood. The companies have preferred work from home option for their employees to limit the outbreak and avoid contracting covid-19.

It is alarming that hundreds of workers have filed as unemployed. The lengthy lockdowns have created serious humanitarian and economic crises and the experts are of the view that the circumstances are fast moving towards the global recessions and may take a long time to recover from this catastrophe.

Though China has been able to contain Covid-19 and even lifted restrictions on outgoing flights with some strict SOPs, yet the Covid 19 seems to be an invisible predator waiting for its prey regardless of any region. The virus has impacted all the zones i.e with the cooler, hotter or moderate atmosphere.

The only solution to fight this pandemic is social distancing, maintaining the hygienic environment and avoiding crowdy spaces. The Governments around the world have imposed strict lockdowns and the frontline fighters (Health workers) around the world doing a marvellous job to protect their fellowmen even at the cost of falling prey to this deadly virus.

While fighting this pandemic. Many health workers have been tested positive. Even, some frontline soldiers lost their fight to this pandemic and laid down their lives to secure the future of their respective country.

Education is being imparted through digital platforms as online education is increasing for students. Though students are facing some issues such as the connectivity, Sound quality, Video Quality, yet in this emergency, the Schools, Colleges, Universities and other online course websites are striving to provide some light of  Knowledge in these difficult times.

The booming industries such as restaurants, hotels, motels and  Aviation have been closed for an indefinite period.

“Coronavirus Pandemic has brought catastrophe in the world impacting all the industries and has caused economic slowdown throughout the world in all the major continents who are thickly populated such as Asia, Europe, the Americas and Africa.“

Unfortunately, despite 151598 deaths worldwide and over 2.21 Million confirmed cases covid-19, all eyes are hooked towards the discovery of vaccine to treat the patients and save their lives. At the moment, only plasma therapy is being conducted and some common medicines are being used such as cough, flu fever-related medicine.

Though human trials have been started by some  Pharmaceutical companies, the experts are of the view that it may take one and half year for the vaccine to be available in the market. It is also estimated to be the costliest vaccine ever keeping in view its global implications and rapid speed of pandemic spread in the world.

It is estimated that Europe, Asia, Middle East to suffer a lot especially, Italy, France, UK, Iran and US as the ratio of deaths is higher than other countries especially US where average deaths per days have surpassed all other nations that prompted Trump to cut funding to world health Organization accusing it of mishandling the pandemic and delayed response to mitigate its implication while  WHO head has refuted the allegations.

The covid-19 has also impacted Sports, News & Media, Entertainment and Services Industries to the extent that. All the sporting events have been suspended, series and Leagues have been rescheduled and big events such as  PSL, IPL, FIFA  World Cup, Olympics Games and others have been completely cancelled raising concerns among the players. Even the players are facing the trauma having travel history to the epicentre of Covid-19 Pandemic and tested positive.

 The Entertainment industry has been heavily impacted as all the dramas, Films and comedy shooting and recording has been postponed till indefinite period and all the events including concerts have cancelled due to covid-19 and actors have lost the source of living.

“The services industry especially the skilled and non-skilled have been subjected to starvation as all the roadside small business such as Hair Cutting Salons, Cobblers, Gold and blacksmith shops, Electricians, Booksellers, daily wages workers and Masons have lost their living owing to lockdowns globally.“

 Finally, the Print and Electronic  Media are partially impacted though they are a very vulnerable community as they have been busy in coverage of the pandemic around the world and are prone to contracting the deadly virus due to close contact with Patients at Quarantine Centres and the Health specialists working at the hospital and temporary health centres specially set up for an emergency.

The Print Media has been hit hard as people consider it risky to read a Print copy of newspapers over covid-19 fears and prefer paper or online edition of the newspapers. Hence, such a trend has impacted the Newspaper  Sales badly.

On the other hand, electronic media such as News Channels, Radio and Digital Media such as Websites, YouTube are grabbing people’ attention.

The Social Media is also buzzing with Covid-19 updates though  Social Media and Silicon Valley companies have asked their employees to work from home and follow the preventive measures these include Twitter, Yahoo, Facebook, Microsoft and Search Giant  Google.

The world should be united to fight this global pandemic that is haunting the world. The US should release funds to help WHO work effectively for global health and expedite the process of vaccine discovery as each day will deprive the near and dear ones of the families around the world. With collaborative efforts, the world can win this war against the pandemic.

The World is undergoing serious economic, social and health crisis as the Covid-19 outbreak originating from Wuhan China, has spread to almost all the continents of the World except Antarctica – the Unhabitated Continent.

Hundreds of People died in china, Iran, France, South Korea and Italy. Italy has been severely gripped by a coronavirus. The Covid-19 after bringing catastrophe in Asia reached Europe and Africa.

Though Africa has limited cases as reported but given the alarming and catastrophic situation rising every day. The South Asian countries i.e. Pakistan, India, Bangladesh though ill-prepared to fight against this Pandemic have done a tremendous job in terms of preparations and taking preventive measures to limit the spread of the fatal Covid-19. 

As hundreds of cases are reported positive, fear, economic crisis, education and health effects have played havoc to the countries to fight Covid-19. The World Health Organizations (WHO) has declared it pandemic asking countries to follow the precaution or preventive measures as circulated by WHO and Isolation facilities for those diagnosed positive.

The States have started diverting their funds towards fighting this novel Virus and having set up Emergency Health  Centers and Isolation Centers for quarantining those arriving from worst-affected countries i.e. China, Iran, France, America and Italy. 

Sindh has been the worst affected by this Virus with 146 confirmed cases as most of the cases are imported from Iran via Taftan.

These include those pilgrims (Zairian) who are returning from Iran after visiting holy places. CM Sindh has so far done a marvelous job by setting up Isolation and Screening Camp at Sukkur to diagnose and keep them at the facility to avert any possibility of contraction to their families.

KP stands second with sudden appearance 19 cases since these confirmed cases are also imported through Taftan border as the affected patients had recently returned from a pilgrimage from Iran. Baluchistan is on 3rd Number with 10 confirmed cases, GB 3 and Islamabad capital with 04 cases. Fortunately, there is any case in AJK.

 The media is regularly breaking and updating news every moment regarding the novel coronavirus, adding the rise to the concerns regarding the sudden outbreak of the pandemic to more countries. The concerns and feelings of fear run high amid cancellations and postponement of all sporting activities, education, colleges, universities and Wedding or public gatherings.

 Companies such as Google, Yahoo, Twitter, Microsoft and Apple have advised their employees to stay at home and work from their home. They also circulated the WHO guidelines among their employees and avoid gatherings of more than 10 people as announced in the latest guidelines of WHOM.

Countries are strictly following the preventive measures communicated to the people by WHO experts and putting bans on unnecessary travel in the city or out of city or borders.

It is the alarming and panicking situation since No vaccine nor has injection been made to treat those affected with the novel coronavirus. WHO cautions the countries having limited facilities to conduct tests and treat the patients advising states around the world especially the Asia and Europe to take preventive measures until the vaccine to treat this deadly virus could be discovered by Medical scientists and microbiologists? 

 At the moment Covid-19 has caused more deaths than Ebola outbreak in African countries, especially in Congo. According to reports that as per, the calculations based on the Center of disease control, the scenarios suggested that as many as  2.4 million to 21 million people in the U.S. could require hospitalization, potentially crushing the nation’s medical system, which has only about 925,000 staffed hospital beds as reported by Media.

The number is very low to house the huge number of affected people from covid-19. It may bring a panicking situation in a developed country like the USA. Less than a tenth of those are for people who are critically ill.

 It would be disastrous to deal with the pandemic given the Medical facilities available at the US and the African states.

At the moment, China is the worst hit with 3800 deaths due to novel coronavirus followed by Italy with 1800 deaths, South Korea with 75 deaths, Iran with 600 deaths.

Luckily, the situation Africa is under control since so far there are a few reported cases but there is no confirmation of the Virus cases yet. 

The African nations have started preparations for fighting this deadly virus, they have one advantage of fighting with the Ebola virus and the lessons learnt from dealing with that epidemic such health and hygiene requirements.

Though African countries have limited resources and facilities yet they have started following the  WHO Precautionary measures to deal with  Possible outbreak of the deadly virus that has spread all over the world.

Its implications are dreadful and catastrophic for the world at large. The world has been struggling to deal with this pandemic as Schools, colleges, universities, restaurants; religious Places have been shut over the fears of this Pandemic.

People are advised through the media campaigns and instructions circulated by WHO to adopt the precautionary measures to remain safe from this disease. Though the symptoms include fever, cough, close breathing affecting lungs, the precautionary material is being aired on Media to apprise people of this deadly virus that has been spreading at a massive scale.

Unfortunately, the medical scientists and microbiologists have not been able to discover any antidote to control it from the spread and contain it. Even WHO appears to be helpless against this disease rather circulated precautionary measures to remain on the safe side until a vaccine could be made for the treatment of the virus?

The physicians have been advising the common treatment for fever such as Paracetmol ,cough syrup and self-isolation to recover from this pandemic as preventive measure .

Till date, there are 100 reported cases in African Countries with two deaths happened in Morocco and Egypt each.  

According to statistics of WHO the  Country wise break up of reported cases of Virus  covid-19: Algeria -20,  Burkina Faso-2, Cameron-2, Democratic Republic of Congo -1, Egypt highest number of cases  -59  includes one death, Morocco -3 with one death, Nigeria 2, Senegal 4, South Africa -13, Tunisia -5 and Togo -1. So far, the situation in African countries is normal only Egypt has the maximum number of cases reported.

The African Countries have been well prepared to contain the outbreak that has played havoc around the world specifically in Asian countries i.e. China, Iran and Europe. There are at least 150000 reported cases worldwide and over 6000 deaths owing to this deadly virus  including  3600 deaths in china alone following by  1800 deaths in Italy.

The Ebola Experience has enabled the African nations to develop a comprehensive plan to fight this Novel Corona Virus. There are about 100 cases have been reported in 11 African Countries while there were only two deaths.

Most of the cases in Egypt are those passengers who had travelled from abroad and the crew members of the ship coming from the countries which are being worst or moderately affected by the deadly coronavirus. The reported cases are just imported out of Africa as there is not any domestic viral outbreak.

However, apart from the rest of world, African states have done a tremendous job to contain Covid-19 by adopting strict preventive measures by completely banning Travel from the countries which are the worst affected by the  Corona Virus.

In this connection, Rwanda has not reported any case, yet it has advised the citizens to maintain hygiene in the country. Rwanda has installed hand Washing Taps and sanitizers to defeat the viral outbreak in the country.

Similarly, Kenya has not reported any cases, yet it has established the 120-bed Quarantine centre and two Testing facilities at Nairobi.

Nigeria has also made mandatory to use hand sanitizers while visiting banks, restaurants, Office and supermarkets to limit the spread of deadly Novel Corona Virus.  

Even several health workers have been deployed by the Government of Nigeria at the international Airports to screen the passengers to avert any possibility of a contracting virus.

According to News reports that the Experience of Nigeria’s dealing with the Ebola Virus has enabled the African Nations to adopt the preventive measures to limit the contraction of Novel Coronavirus in the country. 

 All the Airline companies have suspended their flights over the fears of Covid-19 that include Rwanda Air, Kenyan Airlines, and Royal Air Morocco.

The lessons learnt from the Ebola virus have strengthened the preparation of African Nations to fight Novel coronavirus effectively since they have focused on maintaining hygiene in light of their dealing with the Ebola outbreak.

 They have learnt that hand washing is the first line of defence against any viruses. The case studies of Ebola have furthered their defence.

On the other hand, China has been able to overcome the outbreak by bringing the number to single digits. WHO has also recommended learning from China how it faces this pandemic.

Chinese Experience should be utilized to help control the pandemic in Italy as it has been worst hit by Covid-19 where the death toll crossed 1800 People and Iran 600 people.

Even WHO should take experts from African countries, China and Europe to develop a strategy to fight this pandemic.  The pandemic has been contracted in India with confirmed cases of 107, Pakistan with confirmed cases of 189 as per the latest information available. The numbers are constantly growing increasing concerns of people regarding the preparedness of various nations against this Pandemic.

Though, the cases reported and confirmed in South Asia are mainly those who travelled to Iran, Syria, and China. There is so far no confirmed case of domestic nature or any death. Even, there is no death reported yet in Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, Afghanistan and Sri Lanka.

Luckily, after a long time, SAARC Leadership held the online Video conference to exchange level of readiness against this Novel Corona Virus. The Video Conference was held on the request of Indian PM Narendra Modi. Dr Zafar Mirza proposed a regional Mechanism to fight covid-19 and even demanded to lift Curfew in IOK over the concerns of Novel Corona Virus.

Finally, it is essential to follow WHO prescriptions to remain secure until the vaccine could be developed for this deadly virus. Medical experts claim that the vaccine may take 18 Months to be available to fight this Pandemic.

WHO has cautioned the developing countries around the world to take preventive measure to prevent people from falling prey this pandemic especially those who have limited resources and ill-prepared to fight this Deadly Covid-19 effectively.

The Circumstances in Sindh are very alarming, Government of Pakistan must take strong measures of screening at Taftan border with the composition of experts from Health Ministry both Public and Private Sector to fight this Pandemic and contain it from spreading rapidly.